nebraska christmas.

i love san diego weather. love. after four straight years of two winters per year, and then indiana-freezing winters on top... i feel i deserve the warm weather and sunshine for a bit. this year for christmas, though, i went back to my parents' house for the holidays. and winter. i'm laughing to myself, because this christmas in nebraska has been decidedly un-white, and even slightly warm. it was in the 50s today.
i love coming home to family for christmas. it means loads of baking, so many brothers, little niece and nephew vying for my attention, amazing food that i don't always have to make myself, and so much love. the presents under the tree trees didn't hurt, either.
i love giving presents, too. this year's presents were a bit anticlimactic, since a few were homemade. i've taken up knitting again, and am working on the third of three scarves-as-presents. my mom got a cozy cream-colored loose-knit scarf. tommy and killian (brother and nephew) are getting matching charcoal chunky-knit ribbed scarves. the best part? i have a blast knitting for people i love. and all of these loved ones have loved their scarves. super simple to knit, but a great project that takes up plenty of my time. wanna start a knitting circle, anyone? even if we don't live near each other, there's always google hangout!
love. re.

vacation and vacation from vacation.

i'm back! from my soul vacation, tracing my way through the constellation? nope. not at all. (i'm ridiculous.) i did, however, go back to nebraska for a 10-day visit with the fam! it was so wonderful to see everyone, and to spend a bit of time with my brothers and parents again. i hadn't seen jimmy or bean since the wedding! that's almost a year ago, now! eek. is this what growing up is like!? i guess so... especially since i moved across the country.
there were a lot of bittersweets. it was tough to be without david and my sleeplessness (and/or nightmares) returned. i loved the chance to spend lots of time with my brothers, and their significant others. i didn't get to play with my soon-to-be niece and nephew nearly enough, but i did get the sweetest goodbye hugs. i got a massage with my soon-to-be seestor-in-law, during a week that was very tough for her. i got to do lots of shopping with my mom (lahv the target runs!!!), but the trips to omaha were overwhelming, after living in a place where i can get most anything i need with just a 5-minute drive. familiar scenery was fun, but the weather was shocking. see? bittersweets.
so, when i got back less than a week ago, i kinda crashed. i attempted a vacation-vacation, trying to catch up on sleep, while still keeping more active than i was all winter (gym, small group, friends) and now i'm in a whirlwind to get ready for a visit from a cousin and a day at disneyland with a friend! speaking of getting ready, i have to jet... back to target! grin.
i've got a slew of posts coming this week! recipes, my new hats, project pictures (revamping a previously-ugly swag lamp)! come back often, and we'll have some fun! mkay? mkay!